Folding spring-bedstead



UNTTED STATES PATENT Enron.

EDWARD J. JOHNSON, OF TWINSBURG, OHIO.

FOLDING SPRINIG-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,431, dated August 8, 1882.

Application filed January 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD J. JOHNSON, of Twinsburg, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Spring-Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of my improvement, shown as extended for use. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, part being removed and shown as folded. Fig. 25 is an end elevation of the same, partly in section.

The object of this invention is to provide spring-bedsteads constructed in such a manner that they can be compactly folded for storage and transportation, and which, when folded, will clamp the bedding securely in place.

The invention consists in the combination, with the hinged legs, the hinged locking-bars, and the slotted side rails,of hinged end frames, whereby the said legs are locked in place and released; also, in the combinatiomwith the side rails having longitudinal slots, of hinged end frames and connecting screws or pins, whereby the said side rails are forced downward and the springs are compressed by swinging the said end frames inward and, also. in the combination, with the bottom slats, of cross-bars secured to the ends of the side slats and resting loosely upon the ends of the intermediate slats, whereby the said intermediate slats are allowed to move up and down independently while being kept in their proper relative positions, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A represents the side bars of the bedstead, to which, at a little distance from their ends, are attached cross-bars B.

To the cross-bars B are attached the lower ends of conical spiral springs O, the upper ends of which are attached to the longitudinal bottom slats D, and are connected in crossrows with each other and with the side rails, E, by links F F, so that the said slats D and springs G will be held from lateral movement.

Upon the ends of the longitudinal bottom slats D are laid cross-bars G, the ends of which are secured to the ends of the side slats D, the ends of the otherslats D beingleft free, so that the intermediate slats D can move up and down freelywhile beingkept in their proper relative positions.

To the side bars,A, at a little distance from their ends, are hinged the upper ends of the legs H, so that the said legs H can be swung upalong the inner sides of the said side bars, A. The legs H, near their lower ends, are connected in pairs by rounds I, so that the legs at each end of the bedstead will move together. To each round I, at the inner sides of the legs H, are hinged the lower ends of two bars, J, which are connected ata little distance from their lower ends by a round, K.

To the ends of the side bars, A, are hinged the lower ends of the pairs of bars L by a round, M. The bars L are also connected at a little distance from their lower ends by a round, N, and at their upper ends by a round, 0. When the legs H are in position to support the bedstead the locking-bars J are passed up between the rounds M N of the end frames, and are notched to receive the said rounds, so that the bars J will lock the legs H in place. The bars L of the end frames pass up across the end parts of the side rails,E, and have screws P attached to them, which pass through longitudinal slots E in the said side rails, so that the said end frames can be swung inward in folding the bedstead.

With this construction the bedstead is folded byswinging the end frames,L M N O, inward, which releases the locking-bars J, and allows the said locking-bars J and the legs H to be folded inward along the-inner sides of the side bars, A. The inward movement of the end frames, L M N 0, also forces the side rails, E, downward, compressing the springs G, as shown in Fig. 2.

The bedstead is unfolded for use by swing ing the legs H and locking-bars J downward and outward, passing the free ends of the locking-bars J upward between the rounds M N of the end frames, and swinging the said end frames outward.

With this construction, when the bedstead is folded with the bedding in place upon the bottom slats D the top rounds, O, of the end frames press upon the said bedding and hold ICO it in place, so that the said folded bedstead can be packed away in any desired position without disarranging, the bedding.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten t- 1. In a folding spring-bedstead, the combination, with the legs H, the locking-bars J, and the slotted side rails, E, of the hinged end frames, LMN O, substantially asherein shown and described, whereby the saidlegs arelocked in place and released, as set forth.

2. In afolding spring-bedstead, the combination, with the side rails, E, having slots E, of the hinged end frames, L M N O, and the screws or pins I, substantiallyas herein shown and described, whereby the said side rails are forced downward, and the springs are compressed by swinging the said end frames inward, as set forth.

3. In a folding bedstead, the combination, 

